Jaw Angle Implants

Q: Dr. Eppley, I considered jaw angle implants a few years ago and was told that the maximum width on standard implants was 11mm. This is not wide enough for the correction I would need. What is the maximum width that one can do with custom implants?

A: The historic  maximum width of standard or performed silicone jaw angle implants is 11mm and that remains true even today. When it comes to custom jaw angle implants there is no limit as to what can be designed or potentially inserted. The facial soft tissues can stretch a large amount and the only limitation to jaw angle width that can be done is aesthetic and not anatomical in nature.

It is critically important in jaw angle implants that the desired dimensional changes are carefully considered. Width has been the historic jaw angle dimension that can be augmented. But that has changed recently with the introduction of a vertical jaw angle implant line that is designed to specifically augment this jaw angle area as well. More patients need vertical rather than width increases as this dimension goes a long way to creating a more defined jaw angle shape.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana